Conduit section



June 13, 1967 D, DEAL, JR 3,324,8Q4

CONDUIT SECTION Original Filed Dec. 24,

INVENTOR JOSEPH D. DEHL,JYZ

. BWMIW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 2 Claims. (Cl. 138-109) Thepresent invention relates to a new and novel conduit sectionconstruction, and more particularly to a conduit section which isadapted for use in underwater mining at great depth beneath the surfaceof the sea.

The present application is a division of copending US. patentapplication Ser. No. 332,999, filed Dec. 24, 1963.

The conduit section construction of the present inven tion is especiallyadapted for use with apparatus employed for the recovery of solidsubstances disposed at the bottom of the sea such as manganese noduleswhich are resting on the sea bottom and which are found in quantitiessuflicient for commercial mining at depths ranging generally from 400feet to 12,000 feet or more beneath the surface of the sea.

Apparatus employed for mining of such substances includes a ship adaptedto move through the water over a particular mining area of the seabottom along with a collecting means adapted to move along the seabottom itself to collect the solid substances, and a conduit means isprovided for transporting the collected solid bodies from the collectingmeans up to the ship.

The conduit means employed in this underwater mining operation iscomposed of a plurality of conduit sections of the present invention.These conduit sections must be of relatively large size since in orderto be economi-= cally feasible, the apparatus must be capable of raisinga substantial amount of solid bodies from the sea bottom, and forexample, it is anticipated that a successful commercial operation mustraise as much as 4,000 tons or more of nodules per day. These nodulesare generally spherical solid bodies normally ranging in size from smallones about the size of a toy marble to large ones the size ofbasketballs or even larger. As a practical matter, it is considered thatmining of nodules from about threequarters of an inch in diameter toabout 6 inches in diameter may be the most economical and eificientarrangement, and accordingly the conduit sections according to thepresent invention are designed to handle this size and quantity ofmaterial. It will of course be realized that the examples as to size,depth and so forth are merely illustrative in order to provide in ideaas to the size and scope of the operation being carried out. Thesequantities are in no way limiting and may be varied in accordance withthe particular conditions existing in any certain situation.

The conduit means employed for connecting the collecting means with themining ship includes a plurality of separate sections of such aconstruction that they may be readily and quickly assembled anddisassembled and which provide an effective joint between the individualsections when assembled. These conduit sections furthermore areconstructed so as to permit ready handling by the ship handlingapparatus for lifting and lowering the conduit sections as required, theconduit sections also being of reinforced construction so as to affordadequate strength and rigidity adjacent to the handling portionsthereof. Means is also provided on the conduit sections for assisting inproperly aligning the conduit sections when assembling them for loweringinto operative mining position.

The mining ship may be provided with a suitable well portion throughwhich a conduit means is lowered, and

' 3,324,894 Patented June 13, 1967 suitable handling means is providedon the ship for engaging certain portions of the conduit sections formaneuvering them as required in lifting and lowering them into operativemining position and into stowed position in suitable stowage meansprovided on the ship.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel conduitsection construction adapted to be employed in the depending conduitmeans utilized with a mining ship and a collecting means for raisingsolid bodies of material from the sea bottom.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a conduitsection construction which permits the conduit means to be readily andquickly assembled and disassembled and which provides an effective jointbetween the sections when assembled.

Another object is to provide a conduit section construction whichpermits ready handling by the ship handling apparatus for lifting andlowering the conduit sections as required and wherein the conduitsections are of reinforced construction so as to afford adequatestrength and rigidity adjacent the handling portions provided on theconduit section.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conduit sectionconstruction including means for enabling proper alignment of theconduit sections with respect to one another.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent when considered in connection with the specification andaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates three different types of conduit sections employingthe novel construction of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view partially broken away of one of theconstructions illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the construction shown in FIG. 2 broken away incertain portions to illustrate certain details of construction; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, there isshown in FIG. 1 three different conduit section constructions indicatedrespectively by reference numerals 590, 5&1 and 592. Each of thesedifferent constructions is utilized in certain procedures involved inthe mining operation, and the construction indicated by referencenumeral 590 is a typical conduit section from which the major portion ofthe conduit means is assembled.

Each of the individual conduit sections 590, 591 and 592 is providedwith an upper flange indicated by reference numerals 595, 596 and 597respectively. Each f these individual sections is also provided with alower flange indicated by reference numerals 600, 601 and 602respectively. The construction of the upper flanges of each of theindividual sections may be substantially identical with one another, andthe construction of the lower flanges of each of these individualsections may also be substantially identical with one another ashereinafter described.

In each instance, the conduit sections 590, 591 and 592 include maintubular portions having the upper and lower flanges disposed at theupper and lower ends thereof respectively. The two conduit sections 590and 591 additionally include intermediate collar portions indicated byreference numerals 604 and 605 respectively. The collar portions are ofsubstantially identical construction as hereinafter described, the onlydifference being that the collar portion 604 is provided with anadditional boss 606 as hereinafter described.

The conduit sections 590 and 591 also include first thickened portions608 and 609 respectively disposed between the upper flanges and theintermediate collar portion. Additional thickened portions 610 and 611are provided between the intermediate collar portion and the lowerflanges of the two conduit sections. The construction of these thickenedportions may be substantially identical as hereinafter described.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the constructionaldetails of the conduit section 590 are illustrated, as an example, itbeing understood that conduit sections 591 and 592 are of similarconstruction. The upper flange 55 of conduit section 590 may comprise aseparate forging which is welded as indicated at 614 to the tubularportion 615. Flange 595 is provided with a plurality of spaced holes 617formed therethrough and shown as being 12 in number. Each of holes 617is in communication with the central portion of a counterbored portion613 formed in the undersurface 619 of the flange. A nut 620 is pressfitted within each of the counterbored portions formed in theundersurface of the flange, and a plug member 622 is spot welded in thecounterbore and is also welded to the nut so as to positively preventrotation of the nut with respect to the counterbored portion. The nutprovides a screw threaded means for receiving the threads on a suitableattaching means such as a cap screw or the like for rigidly attachingflange 595 to the flange of an associated conduit section.

The lower flange 600 of conduit section 590 is also provided with aplurality of spaced holes 625 formed therethrough, these holes beingshown as 12 in number. It is apparent that the bottom flange of eachindividual conduit section is adapted to be fixed to the top flange ofan adjacent conduit section by passing suitable attaching means such ascap screws through the holes in the bottom flange of one of thesections, with such screws being threaded into the nuts provided at thebottom portion of the holes provided in the top flange of the nextadjacent section. This arrangement permits the conduit sections to bereadily and quickly assembled and disassembled with respect to oneanother and at the same time provides an effective joint therebetweenwhen in assembled position.

As seen particularly in FIGS. 2 and 4, the tubular portion 615 of theconduit section is provided with a circumferentially extending thickenedportion 608, and a tubular portion 629 of the conduit section alsoincludes a similar circumferentially extending thickened portion 610.The flange 600 of conduit section 590 may comprise a separate forging asis the upper flange 5595 previously mentioned. The collar portion 684may also comprise a separate forging welded to the tubular portions 615and 629 of the conduit section and being disposed intermediate the twothickened portions 608 and 610.

During handling of the conduit sections as entailed in lifting andlowering the conduit sections into operative mining position and intostowed position as the case may be, certain components of the handlingmechanism on the ship are adapted to engage the undersurfaces of upperflange 595 and collar portion 604. The thickened portions of the conduitsections disposed immediately below the upper flange and the collarportion respectively serve to reinforce the conduit section and toprovide adequate strength and rigidity adjacent to these handlingportions on the conduit section.

As seen particularly in FIG. 3, a radially outwardly extending boss 606is suitably secured as by welding as indicated at 632 to the outersurface of the collar portion 604. This radially outwardly extendingboss may be utilized for properly aligning adjacent sections of theconduit means in order to ensure that the conduit sections are properlyoriented when bolting them together.

While the flange and collar portions have been illustrated as beingformed of separate forging, it is also apparent that the flange portionsand collar portions may comprise integral portions of the same castingif desired. In

addition, the thickened portions provided in the tubular parts of theconduit section may either comprise integral portions as shown, or mayalso take the form of separate sleeve portions which are welded in placeabout the outer surface of the tubular portions. In any event, theover-all construction will be such as to facilitate handling of theconduit sections by the handling mechanism on the ship and to alsoprovide sufficient strength and rigidity to the conduit section whensubjected to stress and loadings involved in the handling procedures.

In a typical example, conduit sections 590, 591 and 592 may have alength of approximately 36 feet, 11 feet and 4 /2 feet respectively. Thedistance from the top of the upper flange of each of sections 590 and591 to the bottom of the collar portions thereof may also beapproximately 4 /2 feet. The conduit sections may have an internaldiameter of approximately 19 inches.

It is apparent from the foregoing that there is provided according tothe present invention a conduit section construction which permits theindividual sections to be readily attached to one another so as toprovide a conduit means of great length, an effective joint beingprovided between the individual sections when assembled, and theassembled conduit means also being capable of ready disassembly. Theconduit section construction permits ready handling by the ship handlingapparatus for lifting and lowering the conduit sections as required andthe conduit sections are of reinforced construction so as to affordadequate strength and rigidity adjacent the handling portions thereof.The conduit sections also include means for enabling proper alignment ofthe conduit sections with respect to one another when they are beingassembled into operative relationship.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illusrtative and not restrictive, and since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changesthat fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form theirfunctional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are thereforeintended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus adapted to be carried by a vessel for underwater mining atgreat depths beneath the surface of the sea comprising a rigid integralconduit "section having a generally uniform cross sectional thicknessand a substantially uniform cylindrical bore formed longitudinallytherethrough, said section including an upper handling portion formed onthe upper end thereof and a lower handling portion formed on the lowerend thereof, each of said handling portion extending radially outwardlythereof and peripherally around said section, said section including anintegral collar portion disposed adjacent to said upper handlingportion, said collar portion extending radially outwardly of andperipherally around said section, said section including a firstcircumferentially extending portion of greater wall thickness than saiduniform cross sectional thickness intermediate said upper handlingportion and said collar portion, said section including a secondcircumferentially extending portion of greater wall thickness than saiduniform cross sectional thickness adjacent to but spaced on the oppositeside of said collar portion from said first circumferentially extendingportion of greater wall thickness, said portions of greater, wallthickness being of substantially the same axial extent, saidcircumferentially extending portions of greater wall thickness servingto reinforce the conduit section to provide adequate strength andrigidity when subjected to bending moments to said last-mentionedhandling portion and said collar which also comprises a handling portionof the conduit section.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a boss on said collarportion, said boss extending radially outwardly of said collar portion agreater distance than the radial 5 6 outward extent of said handlingportion so as to be readily FOREIGN PATENTS visible when aligning adacent conduit sections. 197,800 4/1908 Germany References Cited 22,56812/ 1892 Great Britain. UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 645,605 11/ 1950 GreatBritain.

1,235,657 8/1917 Coles 2855 X 2,617,672 11/1952 Nichols 285 405 X CARLW. TOMLIN, P1 zmaly Examine; 3,080,179 3/1963 Huntsinger 285286 X R- G-RKL Assistant x min r- 3,212,796 10/1965 Neuschotz 28591

1. APPARATUS ADAPTED TO BE CARRIED BY A VESSEL UNDERWATER MINING ATGREAT DEPTHS BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE SEA COMPRISING A RIGID INTEGRALCONDUIT SECTION HAVING A GENERALLY UNIFORM CROSS SECTIONAL THICKNESS ANDA SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM CYLINDRICAL BORE FORMED LONGITUDINALLYTHERETHROUGH, SAID SECTION INCLUDING AN UPPER HANDLING PORTION FORMED ONTHE UPPER END THEREOF AND A LOWER HANDLING PORTION FORMED ON THE LOWEREND THEREOF, EACH OF SAID HANDLING PORTIONS EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLYTHEREOF AND PERIPHERALLY AROUND SAID SECTION, SAID SECTION INCLUDING ANINTEGRAL COLLAR PORTION DISPOSED ADJACENT TO SAID UPPER HANDLINGPORTION, SAID COLLAR PORTION EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAIDPERIPHERY AROUND SAID SECTION, SAID SECTION INCLUDING A FIRSTCIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING PORTION OF GREATER WALL THICKNESS THAN SAIDUNIFORM CROSS SECTIONAL THICKNESS INTERMEDIATE SAID UPPER HANDLINGPORTION AND SAID COLLAR PORTION, SAID SECTION INCLUDING A SECONDCIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING PORTION OF GREATER WALL THICKNESS THAN SAIDUNIFORM CROSS SECTIONAL THICKNESS ADJACENT TO BUT SPACED ON THE OPPOSITESIDE OF SAID COLLAR PORTION FROM SAID FIRST CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDINGPORTION OF GREATER WALL THICKNESS, SAID PORTIONS OF GREATER WALLTHICKNESS BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AXIAL EXTENT, SAIDCIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENDING PORTIONS OF GREATER WALL THICKNESS SERVINGTO REINFORCE THE CONDUIT SECTION TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE STRENGTH ANDRIGIDITY WHEN SUBJECTED TO BENDING MOMENTS TO SAID LAST-MENTIONEDHANDLING PORTION AND SAID COLLAR WHICH ALSO COMPRISES A HANDLING PORTIONOF THE CONDUIT SECTION.